2 charged in deaths at sea

Proceeding without bodies, a confession or a murder weapon, federal prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges Wednesday against the two surviving passengers of the Joe Cool in connection with last month's disappearance of the charter boat's captain and three crew members.

Among physical evidence prosecutors say ties Archer and Zarabozo to the murders are four spent 9mm casings found on the Joe Cool that match the type of ammunition purchased by Zarabozo in February 2007.

The suspects, who paid $4,000 cash for a charter to Bimini, were found in the Joe Cool's life raft about 30 miles north of Cuba on Sept. 24. The Miami Beach-based Joe Cool was found adrift several miles from the raft.

Archer and Zarabozo "were calm, stoic, and failed to make eye contact with their rescuers" after they were picked up, according to a Coast Guard affidavit.

The document lays out conflicting statements made by Archer and Zarabozo, and inconsistencies between their stories and evidence recovered. It does not provide an account of what prosecutors believe actually happened at sea.

Both men told investigators three hijackers boarded the 47-foot Joe Cool and killed the crew, the affidavit states. They said the hijackers ordered Archer to steer toward Cuba. Eventually, they said, the boat ran out of fuel and a third vessel picked up the hijackers, who left them unharmed.

Both said the killings occurred on the boat's exterior, the affidavit states. However, blood and three of the four spent 9 mm shell casings were found in the boat's interior, leading investigators to conclude the murders likely took place there.

Zarabozo also said Archer was not present when the captain's wife was shot, according to the affidavit, while Archer claimed he was close to Kelley Branam on the boat's fly bridge and witnessed the shooting.

According to the charges, Zarabozo said the hijackers lured the Joe Cool toward their vessel by issuing a distress call, but the Coast Guard has no record of any distress calls at the time.

The pair gave conflicting explanations for how and when they met. Defense lawyers for the men could not be reached for comment.

Vanessa Blum can be reached at vbblum@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4605.